the idea was to keep within certain codes that club mã©diterranã©e requested, but with a more offbeat vision, with a scenographic approach, but a major focus on decor also to talk about the values of the mountains without the rather heavy, overtly traditional image. we gave the resort a much more â« offensive â» treatment. on every level we wanted to create a climate related to extreme landscapes, which correspond to the really high altitude – it’s the highest mountain resort in europe. we started on the ground floor with an arty ambience, and a huge atrium 16 metres high with a lamp that’s 10 metres tall that resonates with an indoor climbing wall, so we’re linking it to a notion of performance and events.
for the rooms we chose an inner landscape perspective with the accent on introspection, as the bedroom represents rest and respite. we explored pink here, which has a risky side; it’s something organic - flesh in fact - like gently grazed skin. we used wood for this, because it has a soul. the first floor will have the main restaurant, which we treated as a high plateau covered in snow - we took an architectural approach to nature here, playing on light and transparency. it’s a landscape that’s open to the outdoors but warm and cosy too: we reinforced the idea of warmth with our interpretation of a yurt.
we really wanted to portray these mountain emotions that link the outdoor life to an indoors where we come back to curl up and withdraw into ourselves. club med really wanted this resort to express the emotion linked to the club’s spirit, which is recharging batteries, effervescence, vitality and sport. the second restaurant is something totally new for club med. it’s based on a whole suspension system, a sort of soundscape, and there’s also the idea of food and wine tasting, as there’s a gourmet counter and wine cellar and a lounge that’s a bit “tucked awayâ€, that looks out over what’s probably the most beautiful view of the resort. that’s where we’ve put a fireplace, where you can take a little siesta.
so we’re constantly working with paradoxes: inside/outside, introspection and openness towards others. we’ve put the emphasis on encounters and surprise. and on the top floor, which also has one of the finest views of the resort, we created a bar inspired by a glacier. it’s a very fractal landscape with lots of different facets and reflections; it’s discreet and warm at the same time because we used light-coloured wood. it reflects the values of the mountains but it’ll be regularly transfigured and transformed by light, as there’ll be a massive play of light in this area. we’re right at the top, at the summit, here.
so on every level, we’ve focused on sensation and the sensational, that’s why val thorens is called val thorens sensations. i think it’s pretty coherent with the vocation of the resort, which is extreme sports.